Grahame Halliwell, defending, said his client suffered from schizophrenia and was in receipt of a significant amount of medication.

The court heard that Ball, of Kings Park, Seaforth, had 19 previous convictions for theft-type offences and 11 convictions for fraud or related crimes. He was sentenced to be electronically tagged and placed under home curfew from 7pm to 7am daily, and to pay £65 costs.